Libellés

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Hep Taxi!

If you already came to Paris and took a taxi you probably found it hard 1) to spot them 2) to know if they were available or already taken. Not surprising for until recently it was not really easy: you had to guess if the little white light on the rooftop was lit (free) or not (not free). The state of the light though was not easy to see and a lot of people - even Parisians - would shout "Taxi" without even taking a glance at the light ! Now there is a new rule: if the light is red, the taxi is busy (like in this photo) and it is green then the taxi is free. This has been the PDP tip of the day hoping to make your life easier...

Paris taxis were so frustrating! When I finally did manage to hail one, I asked the driver about how to tell if it was vacant and he started his answer talking about Napoleon. I knew that I would never understand the answer then.

This a news for me! (shame I even did not notice that..., really feel I live under a rock sometimes).I do not take many taxis anymore but I did a lot until recently. And I must say I got pretty well used to the white light system, even not so easy to see... But changing is better, I guess so. Well, no, I'm sure I'll miss the previous white light system like a kind of nostalgy from old Paris, like in old movies... Funny to see how a color can be related to a position : free (green) or not free (red)! Very easy pattern, with no doubt. Thank you Eric for the tip.

They won't stop at ALL for you if you are within 100 meters of a taxi pick up zone. They aren't being mean, which used to be my only conclusion. It also begs the question, how on earth would you ev er know if you are within a taxi zone?

I really enjoy your one-a-day photos as I "established" the same practice 633 days ago for the pics of Zagreb, Croatia. My principle was (is) to say everything what's got to be said with just a pic and a title, but somehow you convinced me that a non-tiring short story behind... can (also) do!Thanks for quite an experience with your blog.Regards.GP